Electric-switch box



`10&1: 9, 1928-.

H. E. LEPPr-:R'r

ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX r Filed July 11. 1925 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 9,19.28. l

NITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

.HENRY E. LEPPERT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUMBUILELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPO-BATION OF CONNECTICUT.

, ELECTRIC-SWITCH Box.

Application led July 11, 1925. -Serial No. 42,935.

My invention relates particularly to what is sometimes calledareceptac-le or box for snap switches of the lever or toggle type.

The main object is to provide a construction for guarding and protectingthe operating lever or handle.

Another object is to provide means for locking or holding the switchhandle in po sition so as to preventit from being operated.

In the preferred form the box is provided with means for supporting theswitch and an external guard for the operating lever. This guard isprovided with means for receiving the shackle of a padlock or a sealingwire.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a switch box embodying one form of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view and longitudinal section of the same.

Fic'. 3 is a perspective view of one-halt of the guard member.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the operating yoke for the switch box.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slide which cooperates with the handleof the switch.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detailsof a screw seat.

In the drawing I have shown insulating block 10 carrying any suit-ableform ot switch mcchanism`11 provided with an operating toggle member orlever 12 for opening and closing the circuit with a snap action, as iscustomary in switches of this type. i yoke 13 may be secured to the body10 in the usual manner, as, for instance by one or more screws 14, andthe yoke is provided with an opening 15 in which the handle 12 may beoscillated. y

The switch box consists of a body 16 and cover 17. The box body may beprovided with brackets such as 18 secured inthe op `for instance, byrivets, 19. The yoke 13 may be secured to the brackets 18 by screws 20.rI he cover of the box may be held in place by screws 21 which seat inthe yoke 13. For convenience in holding the screws posite ends,

. 21 to the cover plate, I provide inwardly div rected lugs 17', theedges of which serve as segments of screw threads. These are A .formedby blanking the face plate 17 but L do not requirea threading operation.

l The cover of the box is provided with a "Tsl'ot 22 for the handle 12.I also prefer to provvide a slide 23 which is mounted on the handle 12between the yoke 13 and the front or cover plate 17 so that the slot 22will always be closed whether the handle is up or down,

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shown in Fig. 3. Each of these is provided with one or more lugs 28adapted to be inserted into slots in the cover and riveted in positionso as to form a channel in which the lever 12 may be oscillated. It willbe seen that this channel forms a guide for the linger or for anyinstrument or construction by means of which the switch is to beoperated. On the other hand the side walls of the guard preventaccidental contact with the handle and accidental operation oftheswitch. The

sides of the guard may be provided with openings, such 'as 29, 30, and31 through which locking or sealing means (not shown) may be insertedfor the purpose of holding the handle of the switch either in the onposition or in the off position, as may be desired.

l/Vhen it is desired to have access to the switch the cover may beremoved byrsimply loosening the screws 21 without entirely removingthem, and the screws will be held by the lugs 17.

I claim:

1. A snap switch 'having a sheet metal face plate, an operating leverextending through said face plate and a projecting channel-like sheetmetal guard for said lever having lugs near each end of each sideextending through said ace plate and riveted thereto, said guard itsoperative positions, said guard having a perforation approximately inthe center of each side to receive a locking member inthe path ofmovement of said lever.

3. In a snap switch a face plate with a slot therein, switch mechanismmounted back of said face plate and including an oscillating operatingfinger lever the end of Which projects outwardly through the slot insaid plate and a guard member having finger-guide flanges secured tosaid face plate and projecting edgewise outwardly therefrom on oppositesides of said slot, the channel between the Walls of said flanges beingof substantially the Width of the end of a finger and only slightlyWider than the end of said lever to provide a limited finger guide,*itvith room enough between the end of the lever and the guard to admitthe tip of one finger, the outer edges of said flange being shaped toconform to the path of movement of the outer end of said lever and guardthe end of the 1ever throughout its movement.

4. An electric switch sheet metal face plate having a slot for anoperating lever and having sheet metal guard flanges on opposite sidesthereof spaced apart from each other but near enough together to providea finger guide channel, at least one of said'flanges having an openingvin position to receive means for locking the switch lever in apredetermined position.

HENRY E. LEPPERT.

